Projection optical system and projection display device using the same

ABSTRACT

A projection optical system having a magnification side and a reduction side for forming a magnified image on a magnification side image surface conjugate with a reduction side conjugate image surface includes, arranged in order from the reduction side, a first imaging system including a plurality of lens elements and lens components and a second imaging system including a mirror having a concave, aspheric reflecting surface. An intermediate image is formed between the first imaging system and the second imaging system. The projection optical system satisfies specified conditions related to the travel of principal rays through the projection optical system and related to the Abbe number of a lens element having positive refractive power of the first imaging system. A projection display device includes the projection optical system and may include a light valve for modulating a light beam for projection on a screen.

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 120 ofallowed U.S. application Ser. No. 11/357,049 that was filed on Feb. 21,2006, which application claimed the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 of JPApplication 2005-053782 that was filed on Feb. 28, 2005.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a projection optical system and aprojection display device, particularly a projection optical system forrear projection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Projection optical systems using a refractive optical system withrefractive optical elements made of optical glass for projection displaydevices and projection televisions have been widely known.

However, when refractive optical systems are used as the projectionoptical systems, chromatic aberrations occur because of thecharacteristics of optical glass varying with wavelength. Particularly,the axial chromatic aberration in long focal length optical systems,known as telescope-type optical systems, and the lateral coloraberration in short focus optical systems is a major problem.

An optical system formed as a single mirror has been proposed toeliminate such chromatic aberrations. Also, optical systems with a smallnumber of minors, more specifically—three minors having curved asphericsurfaces, have been proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent ApplicationsH10-111458, 2001-222063, 2001-235681, 2003-344772, and Japanese PatentNo. 3043583. However, because at least three aspheric minors are used inthe projection optical systems described in the above-mentioned Japaneselaid-open patent applications and Japanese patent, high accuracy ofassembly is required and manufacturing costs become high.

Recently, demand for compactness of such projection optical systems hasbecome strong, and a projection optical system with oblique projectionfavorable to making such devices compact, as shown in Japanese Laid-OpenPatent Application 2004-226997, has attracted attention.

Such a projection optical system with oblique projection easily resultsin deterioration of imaging performance even if only a small deviationfrom design values occurs, particularly, a big trapezoidal distortioneasily occurs due to tilting of the optical elements. Therefore, methodsof using plural aspheric minors have been proposed to compensate forthese drawbacks.

As described above, when plural aspheric mirrors are used in theprojection optical systems with oblique projection, high accuracy ofassembly is required and manufacturing costs become high.

Accordingly, the development of a projection optical system capable ofrelaxing the requirements of accuracy of assembly of the optical systemwhile maintaining good optical performance is an urgent necessity forsatisfying the requirements for a compact device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a high-performance, compact projectionoptical system and projection display device in which the assembly ofthe optical system is easy, manufacturing costs can be lowered, and theprojected image is subject to little distortion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given below and the accompanying drawings, whichare given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of thepresent invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the projection optical systemaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows details of the cross-sectional view of the projectionoptical system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the projection optical systemaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows details of the cross-sectional view of the projectionoptical system of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a side view and a front view, respectively, of theprojection optical system according to Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B show the coma and distortion, respectively, of theprojection optical system according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 7A and 7B show the coma and distortion, respectively, of theprojection optical system according to Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 8 illustrates the angles θ1, θ2 and the distances L and Y of theprojection optical system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A general description of the projection optical system of the presentinvention that pertains to disclosed embodiments of the invention willnow be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 that show Embodiment 1.This projection optical system is used as a projection optical systemfor a projection display device. FIG. 1 shows the entire optical systemfrom the reduction side image surface at a light valve 3 on the opticalaxis X of a first imaging system 1 to the magnification side imagesurface at a screen onto which an intermediate image is relayed by asecond imaging system 2. FIG. 2 shows an enlarged detailed view of thefirst imaging system of FIG. 1 with the direction toward the screenindicated by a horizontal arrow at the upper right of the figure.

In FIG. 2, lens elements are referenced by the letter L with a subscriptnumber denoting their order from the reduction side of the projectionoptical system along the optical axis X, from L₁ to L₁₂. Similarly, theradii of curvature of the optical surfaces are referenced by the letterR with a subscript number denoting their order from the reduction sideof the projection optical system, from R₁ to R₂₇. The on-axis surfacespacings along the optical axis X of the various optical surfaces arereferenced by the letter D with a subscript number denoting their orderfrom the reduction side of the projection optical system, from D₁ toD₂₇. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 1, the second imaging system 2includes a minor 4 with the radius of curvature thereof referenced byR_(M), and the radius of curvature of the screen 5, which is planar, isreferenced by R_(B). Furthermore, the maximum horizontal distancebetween the mirror 4 and the screen 5 is referenced by D_(M), with adouble-headed horizontal arrow indicating the extent of D_(M). Theon-axis surface spacings D are measured along the optical axis betweenpoints where each vertex of an optical element intersects the opticalaxis or are measured in a direction parallel to the optical axis betweenpoints common to a line perpendicular to the optical axis and passingthrough such a vertex or a conjugate image plane or surface. By havingthe vertex of the minor 4 on the optical axis X, as shown in FIG. 1, thedistance D_(M) between the mirror 4 and the screen 5, which is measuredin the direction of the optical axis X, is minimized.

In this projection display device, a light beam from a light source (notshown) is irradiated on the light valve 3 via an illumination opticalsection (not shown), and a light beam carrying image informationintroduced by the light valve 3 modulating the light beam is magnifiedand projected on a screen 5 by a projection optical system made up ofthe projection lens system 1, which is the first imaging system, and aminor 4, which is the second imaging system 2. The screen 5 is arrangedat least approximately at the magnification side image surface or planeof the projection optical system and the light valve 3 is arranged atleast approximately at the reduction side image surface or plane of theprojection optical system that is conjugate with the magnification sideimage surface or plane. As shown in FIG. 2, a cover glass 6, which is aplane parallel plate, and a prism 7, such as a color synthesis prism, alight deflecting prism, or similar device, are arranged on the lightemergence side of the light valve 3. An intermediate image is formedbetween the first imaging system 1 and the second imaging system 2.

Moreover, the second imaging system 2 of the invention is used as anoff-axis optical system, wherein a space on one side of the optical axisX (i.e., a lower space, as shown in FIG. 1) is used as a lightreflection region. Thus, the screen 5 can be arranged in the positionshown in FIG. 1, which enables making a projection display devicethinner and more compact. This off-axis arrangement is accomplished bylocating the reduction-side image surface on one side of the opticalaxis of the first optical system, thereby causing the magnification sideimage surface to be located across the optical axis from the reductionside image surface. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, themagnification side image surface is positioned above the optical axis ofthe first optical system and thus the magnification side image surfaceis located below the optical axis of the first optical system, therebyachieving what is termed herein as an “off-axis optical system”arrangement with regard to the second imaging system 2.

The second imaging system 2 is at least approximately symmetrical onboth sides of the plane of FIG. 1 that includes the optical axis X, andthe assembly of the optical elements is made simple by this arrangement.

It is preferable that the second imaging system 2 of the presentinvention satisfy the following Conditions (1) and (2):

0.55<|tan θ1|<0.84  Condition (1)

0.75<|tan θ2|<1.3  Condition (2)

where

-   -   θ1 is the maximum angle among all the angles that principal rays        from the first imaging system to the second imaging system make        with the normal to the reduction side conjugate image surface,        and    -   θ2 is the angle difference between the incident angle and        emergent angle in the second imaging system of the principal ray        having the maximum angle among all the angles that principal        rays from the first imaging system to the second imaging system        make with the normal to the reduction side conjugate image        surface.

Additionally, it is preferable that the first imaging system 1 and thesecond imaging system 2 have a common optical axis, each have arotationally symmetric shape, and that the following Condition (3) besatisfied:

1.7<|(L·tan θ1)/Y|<2.8  Condition (3)

where

-   -   θ1 is the maximum angle among all the angles that principal rays        from the first imaging system to the second imaging system make        with the normal to the reduction side conjugate image surface;    -   L is the distance along said optical axis from the reduction        side conjugate image surface to the closest lens element of the        first imaging system; and    -   Y is the distance from the intersection of the optical axis and        the reduction side conjugate image surface to the image point of        the reduction side conjugate image surface that is farthest from        the intersection.

Also, it is preferable that the first imaging system includes at leastone lens element having positive refractive power, and the material ofthe at least one lens element satisfies the following Condition (4):

ν_(convex)>80  Condition (4)

where

-   -   ν_(convex) is the Abbe number of the material of the first lens        element having positive refractive power of the first imaging        system.

A high performance projection optical system is enabled by arranging theoptical elements to satisfy Conditions (1)-(4) above.

The particular technical meaning of Conditions (1)-(4) above isdescribed below.

Satisfying Condition (1) enables determining a good balance of providingwide-angle projection and ease of correction of aberrations. If thelower limit of Condition (1) is not satisfied, changes in the incidentposition and the angle of incidence at the field angle of the lightincident upon the second imaging system decrease, and it becomesdifficult to construct the second imaging system for widening an imageto a wide angle and forming it on the screen 5 at the same time. On theother hand, if the upper limit of Condition (1) is not satisfied, thefirst imaging system has too wide an angle and aberration correction ofthe first imaging system becomes difficult.

Condition (2) prescribes a balance between compaction of the entiredevice and ease of observation of an image on the screen 5. If the lowerlimit of Condition (2) is not satisfied, the angle of incidence of alight beam incident on the screen 5 decreases, becoming closer toperpendicular incidence, and the distance between the screen 5 and thesecond imaging system increases, making it difficult to make the devicecompact. On the other hand, if the upper limit of Condition (2) is notsatisfied, the optical path of a beam incident upon the screen 5 isnearly parallel to the surface of the screen 5, making it difficult toobserve an image on the screen 5.

Condition (3) defines a range for the case of irradiating a light fromthe first imaging system to the image display surface when the lightvalve 3 is a reflective light valve.

Namely, with a reflective light valve 3, such as a reflective liquidcrystal (LCOS) or a DMD, the angle of incidence of a light beam incidentupon the image display surface of the light valve 3 must be small, thatis, close to perpendicular incidence, but the use of a reflective lightvalve requires that a space for inserting an oblique reflecting plane beprovided between the first imaging system and the image display surfaceof the reflective light valve. If the lower limit of Condition (3) isnot satisfied, it becomes difficult to include a large enough space. Onthe other hand, if the upper limit of Condition (3) is not satisfied,the operating distance of the first imaging system increases too muchand the aberration correction becomes difficult.

Condition (4) prescribes a range of the Abbe number of a lens elementhaving positive refractive power in the first imaging system in order tofavorably correct chromatic aberrations. Namely, if Condition (4) is notsatisfied, it becomes difficult to favorably correct both axialchromatic aberration and lateral color.

In the projection optical system of the present invention, the secondimaging system is, preferably, formed of only one minor 4. When thissecond imaging system is formed of plural minors, (as in Embodiment 2,best shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B) alignment adjustment is difficult, and itis difficult to maintain high performance because of errors in assembly.In contrast, when the second imaging system is formed of only one minor,as in Embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 1, errors in assembly are small andhigh performance can be maintained easily.

Additionally, the minor 4 is formed as a rotationally symmetric surfaceabout the optical axis so as to facilitate alignment adjustment.Furthermore, the first imaging system and the second imaging system havea common optical axis in order to facilitate alignment adjustment.

It is preferable that a plane mirror be arranged in a position betweenthe second imaging system and the screen 5 (a position shown by a bolddash-double dot straight line in FIG. 1) so that compactness of thedevice can be achieved by folding the optical path (in the up and downdirection in the plane of the paper surface of FIG. 1).

In the projection optical system of the present invention shown in FIG.1, no reflecting optical element exists between the first imaging systemand the second imaging system. As described above, in the projectionoptical system of the present invention, an intermediate image is formedbetween the first imaging system and the second imaging system.Therefore, if a reflecting optical element were arranged between thefirst imaging system and the second imaging system, images of dustparticles adhering to the surface of the reflecting optical elementwould be projected onto the screen 5. Accordingly, a reflecting opticalelement, such as a mirror, is not arranged between the first imagingsystem and the second imaging system. This avoids the inconvenience ofimages of dust particles being projected onto the screen 5. However, ifit is possible to construct a system able to solve the problem of dust(for example, if a system is constructed so as to cover the spacebetween the first imaging system and the second imaging system with adust-proof cover), a plane mirror 9, as shown in FIG. 5B, may bearranged between the first imaging system consisting of a projectionlens system 1 and the second imaging system 2 consisting of a mirror 4in order to fold the optical path and achieve compaction of the device.

Moreover, the first imaging system of Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention, as shown in FIG. 4, includes a lens element having negativerefractive power and made of a resinous material (the seventh lens L7 inFIG. 4).

In Embodiment 2, the focus position fluctuates with changes intemperature of the first lens element L1 having positive refractivepower and satisfying Condition (4) above. A lens element having negativerefractive power and made of a resinous material arranged in the firstimaging system can compensate for this fluctuation.

A projection display device including a projection optical system of thepresent invention applied to a rear projection television is shown inside view in FIG. 5A and in front view in FIG. 5B, with some differencesfrom the projection optical system shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, the optical path from the second imaging system2 to the screen 5 is folded by a plane minor 10 in order to make theentire device compact. In addition, a plane mirror 9 is arranged betweenthe projection lens system 1 and the second imaging system 2 to fold theoptical path to a compact arrangement. As shown in FIG. 5A, the entiresecond imaging system 2 is behind the screen 5, thus achieving aneffective use of space.

Two embodiments of the present invention will now be individuallydescribed with reference to the drawings.

As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a reflected light beam from themirror 4 enters at an extremely large angle of incidence to the screen5.

The projection optical system and the projection display device of thepresent invention are constructed having a magnification side and areduction side for forming a magnified image on the magnification sideat an image surface that is conjugate with a surface on the reductionside. The projection optical system includes, in order from thereduction side: a first imaging system including a plurality of lenselements and lens components and a second imaging system including amirror (or minors) having a concave aspheric reflecting surface, and anintermediate image is formed between the first imaging system and thesecond imaging system. Accordingly, a real image with less distortioncan be formed on a screen using a small number of mirrors even though alarge angle of incidence is used in an oblique incidence optical system,and the occurrence of chromatic aberrations can be suppressed ascompared to a case of forming the projection optical system using onlyone mirror and one imaging system. Because the second imaging system mayuse only one minor, the assembly of the optical system can befacilitated and the device can be made compact.

Moreover, by the projection optical system and the projection displaydevice of the present invention being constructed with an intermediateimage formed between the first imaging system and the second imagingsystem, the second imaging system can be constructed with a smallermirror as compared to a system that is constructed with a convex minorin the second imaging system and without an intermediate image betweenthe first imaging system and the second imaging system.

Specifically, when the minors constructing the second imaging system aremade in the shape of a convex surface or a flat surface, the crossingposition of a light ray equivalent to a wide field angle among lightrays emergent from the first imaging system at the minor surface is at alarge distance from the optical axis, which requires that this minorbecome large (see, for example, FIG. 3 of Japanese Laid-Open PatentApplication 2003-344772). In contrast, with the projection opticalsystem of the present invention, if an image is formed between the firstimaging system and the second imaging system, the crossing position of alight ray equivalent to a wide field angle among light rays emergentfrom the first imaging system at the minor surface is at a positionapproaching the optical axis, thus allowing miniaturization of thisminor.

Two embodiments, Embodiments 1 and 2, of the present invention will nowbe individually described with reference to the drawings.

In the projection optical system of both Embodiments 1 and 2 of thepresent invention, the minor 4 of the second imaging system is concaveand is formed as an aspheric surface defined by the following equation:

Z=Σ(A _(i) ·Y ^(i))  Equation (A)

where

-   -   Z is the length (in mm) of a line drawn from a point on the        aspheric minor surface at a distance Y from the optical axis to        the tangential plane of the aspheric surface vertex,    -   and    -   A_(i) is the ith aspheric coefficient, and the summation extends        over i.

In Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention disclosed below, onlyaspheric coefficients A₁-A₂₀ of the mirror 4 are non-zero.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the projection optical systemaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows anenlarged detailed view of the first imaging system of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the projection lens system, which is the firstimaging system, transmits a light beam carrying image informationprovided by a light valve 3 formed as a reflective liquid crystal onsilicon (LCOS) element. As shown in FIG. 1, the projection lens system 1is on the reduction side of a mirror 4 which forms the second imagingsystem 2, and, as more clearly shown in FIG. 2, the projection lenssystem 1 includes, arranged in order from the reduction side, a coverglass 6, which is a plane parallel plate, a prism 7, a first group ofsix lens elements, L₁-L₆, a stop 8, and a second group of lens elements,L₇-L₁₂.

Here, the first lens element L₁ is formed of glass with an Abbe numberlarger than eighty.

Table 1 below lists the surface number # in order from the reductionside, the radius of curvature R (in mm) of each surface on the opticalaxis, the on-axis surface spacing D (in mm), as well as the refractiveindex N_(d) and the Abbe number ν_(d) (both at the d-line of 587.6 nm)of each optical element for Embodiment 1. Note that although R is theon-axis radius of curvature, for convenience of illustration, in FIG. 2the lead lines from the R reference symbols extend to the surfaces beingreferenced but do not extend to the on-axis positions. As indicated atthe bottom portion of Table 1, minor surface M has a concavity definedby its aspheric characteristics according to Equation (A) above andnominally has an infinite radius of curvature, as do the reduction sideconjugate image surface, conjugate surface A in Table 1 below, in thevicinity of the light valve 3 and the magnification side conjugate imagesurface, conjugate surface B in Table 1 below, in the vicinity of thescreen 5.

TABLE 1 # R D N_(d) ν_(d) Conjugate ∞ 20.700 Surface A 1 ∞ 12.0001.83500 43.0 2 ∞ 28.100 1.51680 64.2 3 ∞ 6.050 4 216.766 6.385 1.4970081.6 5 −174.654 0.200 6 85.142 25.000 1.49700 81.6 7 536.356 13.589 857.628 24.143 1.81600 46.6 9 24.390 0.526 10 24.733 15.042 1.49700 81.611 −22.404 1.500 1.83481 42.7 12 −94.551 5.616 13 −45.751 4.169 1.7234238.0 14 −28.843 5.153 15 ∞ (stop) 120.000 16 57.270 11.661 1.69350 53.217 95.909 27.920 18 44.567 11.007 1.72916 54.7 19 77.899 9.893 20−504.591 2.500 1.83481 42.7 21 81.925 7.866 22 −3516.739 2.499 1.8348142.7 23 52.379 14.225 24 −130.101 8.490 1.80610 33.3 25 −55.918 10.00726 −45.259 2.499 1.48749 70.2 27 −171.028 355.522 Mirror ∞ −436.850(D_(M)) Surface M * Conjugate ∞ Surface B The * to the right of themirror surface M in Table 1 indicates, as mentioned above, that thissurface is an aspheric surface, and the aspheric surface shape of thismirror surface is expressed by Equation (A) above.

Table 2 below lists the values of the aspheric coefficients A₁-A₂₀ inEquation (A) above for the minor surface M of Table 1. Asphericcoefficients that are not present in Table 2 are zero. An “E” in thedata indicates that the number following the “E” is the exponent to thebase 10. For example, “1.0E-2” represents the number 1.0×10⁻².

TABLE 2 A₁ A₂ A₃ A₄ A₅ −5.19193E−2 −4.73855E−3 9.60433E−6 1.34793E−8−1.19444E−9 A₆ A₇ A₈ A₉ A₁₀ 9.69221E−12 4.49559E−14 −9.23601E−164.97465E−19 3.32850E−20 A₁₁ A₁₂ A₁₃ A₁₄ A₁₅ 1.82114E−23 −1.19507E−241.74339E−27 −2.62136E−29 2.13615E−31 A₁₆ A₁₇ A₁₈ A₁₉ A₂₀ 2.45006E−33−2.94134E−35 1.03069E−37 −1.14839E−40 −2.78376E−44

The projection optical system of Embodiment 1 satisfies Conditions(1)-(4) above, as set forth in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Condition No. Condition Value (1) 0.55 < |tan θ1| < 0.84 0.647(2) 0.75 < |tan θ2| < 1.3 1.060 (3) 1.7 < |(L · tan θ1)/Y| < 2.8 2.177(4) ν_(convex) > 80 81.6

FIG. 6A shows the coma of the projection optical system of Embodiment 1of the present invention at varying distances (595 mm to 1455 mm) fromthe optical axis X for light of wavelengths 435.8 nm, 546.1 nm, and656.3 nm on the screen 5. FIG. 6A shows the coma for both the tangential(left column) and sagittal (right column) image surfaces. FIG. 6B showsthe distortion (in percent) at varying distances (595 mm to 1455 mm)from the optical axis X on the screen 5.

As shown in FIGS. 6A-6B, the projection optical system of Embodiment 1of the present invention is a high performance projection optical systemthat is able to favorably correct aberrations.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the projection optical systemaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows anenlarged detailed view of the first imaging system of FIG. 3, and FIGS.5A and 5B show a side view and a front view, respectively, of thisembodiment. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the same symbols are attached to elementshaving the same effects as those of Embodiment 1 and a separatedescription of these elements is omitted.

The construction of this projection optical system is roughly the sameas the projection optical system of Embodiment 1 but is different inways. First, the second group of lens elements of the first imagingsystem 1 includes seven lens elements, L₇-L₁₃, and the seventh lenselement L₇ has negative refractive power, is formed of a resinousmaterial, and is the closest lens element of the second group of lenselements to the stop 8, as shown in FIG. 4. Second, the second imagingsystem 2 is formed of three mirrors 9, 4, and 10 rather than a singleminor 4.

Table 4 below lists the surface number # in order from the reductionside, the radius of curvature R (in mm) of each surface on the opticalaxis, the on-axis surface spacing D (in mm), as well as the refractiveindex N_(d) and the Abbe number ν_(d) (both at the d-line of 587.6 nm)of each optical element for Embodiment 2. As indicated at the bottomportion of Table 4, minor surface M has a concavity defined solely byits aspheric characteristics according to Equation (A) above andnominally has an infinite radius of curvature, as do the reduction sideconjugate image surface, conjugate surface A in Table 4 below, in thevicinity of the light valve 3 and the magnification side conjugate imagesurface, conjugate surface B in Table 4 below, in the vicinity of thescreen 5.

TABLE 4 # R D N_(d) ν_(d) Conjugate ∞ 20.700 Surface A  1 ∞ 12.0001.83500 43.0  2 ∞ 28.100 1.51680 64.2  3 ∞ 6.050  4 135.520 8.9331.49700 81.6  5 −168.010 3.029  6 58.118 25.000 1.49700 81.6  7 194.51315.550  8 59.937 6.893 1.81600 46.6  9 26.633 0.647 10 27.094 13.7321.49700 81.6 11 −26.842 1.500 1.83481 42.7 12 −100.867 8.956 13 −63.9623.452 1.72342 38.0 14 −35.844 2.542 15 ∞ (Stop) 35.000 16 −52.553 4.0001.49023 57.5   17 * −79.601 52.391 18 52.802 10.673 1.69350 53.2 19103.392 23.170 20 40.416 9.348 1.72916 54.7 21 72.861 7.032 22 −6374.8512.499 1.83481 42.7 23 77.337 5.777 24 6083.087 2.499 1.83481 42.7 2544.282 12.519 26 −149.128 7.482 1.80610 33.3 27 −55.093 10.622 28−38.907 2.499 1.48749 70.2 29 −166.069 354.755 Mirror ∞ −436.756 (D_(M))Surface M * Conjugate ∞ Surface B The * to the right of the mirrorsurface M in Table 4 indicates, as mentioned above, that this surface isan aspheric surface, and the aspheric surface shape of this mirrorsurface is expressed by Equation (A) above.

Also, the lens surface #17 with a * to the right of the surface numberin Table 4 is an aspheric lens surface, and the aspheric surface shapeof this lens surface is defined by the following equation:

Z=[(Y ² /R)/{1+(1−Y ² /R ²)^(1/2)}]+Σ(A _(i) ·Y ^(i))  Equation (B)

where

-   -   Z is the length (in mm) of a line drawn from a point on the        aspheric lens surface at a distance Y from the optical axis to        the tangential plane of the aspheric surface vertex,    -   R is the radius of curvature (in mm) of the aspheric lens        surface on the optical axis,    -   Y is the distance (in mm) from the optical axis, and    -   A_(i) is the ith aspheric coefficient, and the summation extends        over i.

In Embodiment 2 of the present invention, only aspheric coefficientsA₃-A₂₀ of lens surface #17 are non-zero.

Table 5 below lists the values of the aspheric coefficients A₁-A₂₀ inEquation (A) above for the minor surface M of Table 4. Table 5 belowalso lists the values of the aspheric coefficients A₃-A₂₀ in Equation(B) above for the aspheric lens surface (surface #17) of Table 4.Aspheric coefficients that are not present in Table 5 are zero. An “E”in the data indicates that the number following the “E” is the exponentto the base 10. For example, “1.0E−2” represents the number 1.0×10⁻².

TABLE 5 # A₁ A₂ A₃ A₄ A₅ 17 0 0 −3.63807E−6 2.57731E−7 −7.50463E−9Mirror Surface M −5.35756E−2 −4.78640E−3 9.61032E−6 1.35293E−8−1.19432E−9 # A₆ A₇ A₈ A₉ A₁₀ 17 −6.96630E−11 2.47599E−13 2.01558E−143.20286E−16 3.86019E−18 Mirror Surface M 9.69148E−12 4.49304E−14−9.23846E−16 4.96501E−19 3.32847E−20 # A₁₁ A₁₂ A₁₃ A₁₄ A₁₅ 176.41441E−20 6.38500E−22 6.11479E−24 8.91812E−26 8.22154E−28 MirrorSurface M 1.82219E−23 −1.19492E−24 1.74427E−27 −2.62115E−29 2.13601E−31# A₁₆ A₁₇ A₁₈ A₁₉ A₂₀ 17 7.55509E−30 1.09281E−31 9.57870E−34 8.70711E−361.48242E−37 Mirror Surface M 2.44984E−33 −2.94144E−35 1.03085E−37−1.14907E−40 −2.77142E−44

The projection optical system of Embodiment 2 satisfies Conditions(1)-(4) above, as set forth in Table 6 below.

TABLE 6 Condition No. Condition Value (1) 0.55 < |tan θ1| < 0.84 0.673(2) 0.75 < |tan θ2| < 1.3 1.024 (3) 1.7 < |(L · tan θ1)/Y| < 2.8 2.264(4) ν_(convex) > 80 81.6

FIG. 7A shows the coma of the projection optical system of Embodiment 2of the present invention at varying distances (595 mm to 1455 mm) fromthe optical axis X for light of wavelengths 435.8 nm, 546.1 nm, and656.3 nm on the screen 5. FIG. 7A shows the coma for both the tangential(left column) and sagittal (right column) image surfaces. FIG. 7B showsthe distortion (in percent) at varying distances (595 mm to 1455 mm)from the optical axis X on the screen 5.

As shown in FIGS. 7A-7B, the projection optical system of Embodiment 2of the present invention is a high performance projection optical systemthat is able to favorably correct aberrations.

FIG. 8 illustrates the angles θ1, θ2 and the distances L and Y of theprojection optical system of both embodiments.

The projection display device of the present invention is characterizedby including a projection optical system of the present invention.

The projection optical system of the present invention and theprojection display device of the present invention being thus described,it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Forinstance, values such as the radius of curvature R of each of the lenselements, the surface spacing D, the refractive index N_(d), as well asthe Abbe number ν_(d), are not limited to the examples indicated in eachof the aforementioned embodiments, as other values can be adopted.Additionally, for example, the shape of the curved mirror surface andthe position and arrangement of the curved mirror may be varied. Suchvariations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit andscope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention shall bedefined as set forth in the following claims and their legalequivalents. All such modifications as would be obvious to one skilledin the art are intended to be included within the scope of the followingclaims.

1. A projection optical system having a magnification side and areduction side for forming a magnified image on a magnification sideimage surface that is conjugate with a reduction side image surface,said projection optical system comprising, arranged in order from thereduction side: a first imaging system including a plurality of lenselements and lens components arranged along an optical axis; and asecond imaging system including a mirror having a concave, asphericreflecting surface; wherein an intermediate image is formed between saidfirst imaging system and said second imaging system; said reduction sideimage surface is located on one side of the optical axis of the firstimaging system, thereby causing said reduction side image surface andsaid intermediate image to be located across the optical axis of thefirst imaging system; and the reflecting surface of said mirror is madeto be a rotationally-symmetrical surface.
 2. The projection opticalsystem of claim 1, wherein the following condition is satisfied:0.55<|tan θ1|<0.84 where θ1 is the maximum angle among all the anglesthat principal rays from said first imaging system to said secondimaging system make with the normal to said reduction side conjugateimage surface.
 3. The projection optical system of claim 1, wherein thefollowing condition is satisfied:0.75<|tan θ2|<1.3 where θ2 is the angle difference between the incidentangle and emergent angle in said second imaging system of the principalray having the maximum angle among all the angles that principal raysfrom said first imaging system to said second imaging system make withthe normal to said reduction side conjugate image surface.
 4. Theprojection optical system of claim 1, wherein said second imaging systemconsists of said mirror.
 5. The projection optical system of claim 1,wherein: all the optical elements of said first imaging system arerotationally symmetric about said optical axis.
 6. (canceled)
 7. Theprojection optical system of claim 1, wherein said first imaging systemand said second imaging system have a common optical axis.
 8. Theprojection optical system of claim 1, wherein: said first imaging systemincludes at least one lens element having positive refractive power; andthe material of said at least one lens element satisfies the followingcondition:ν_(convex)>80 where ν_(convex) is the Abbe number of said material. 9.The projection optical system of claim 1, wherein at least onereflecting optical element is present between said second imaging systemand said magnification side image surface.
 10. The projection opticalsystem of claim 1, wherein no optical element is present between saidfirst imaging system and said second imaging system.
 11. The projectionoptical system of claim 1, wherein said first imaging system includes alens element having negative refractive power and made of a resinousmaterial.
 12. A projection display device including the projectionoptical system of claim
 1. 13. A projection display device including theprojection optical system of claim
 2. 14. A projection display deviceincluding the projection optical system of claim
 3. 15. A projectiondisplay device including the projection optical system of claim
 4. 16. Aprojection display device including the projection optical system ofclaim
 5. 17. (canceled)
 18. A projection display device including theprojection optical system of claim
 7. 19. A projection display deviceincluding the projection optical system of claim
 8. 20. A projectiondisplay device including the projection optical system of claim 9.